Introduction: Since resistance training is the building block of training programs in the entire sports field, and flourishing in this domain to much extend depends on applying the best strategy. In volleyball, Due to the prominent role of maximum strength's functions such as explosive power and muscular endurance resistance training is recommended too. Up to the date, many researches have been conducted in this area in order to shed more light on instructors' way and sportsmen in applying the best strategies. In the current study some of the physiological responses to 6 weeks of resistance training with three different loading patterns: pyramid, reverse pyramid, and double pyramid has been studied in order to specify the suitable loading pattern.
Methodology: This study was quasi-experimental in nature, which had pretest and post test with a control group. 22 female volleyball players, including 3 experimental and one control group had been participated in this study. After 6 weeks treatment, the one- way ANOVA and LSD were run on obtained date with the alpha level r=0.05. Also, the Eta square was used to measure the effect size.
Results: The findings revealed that after six weeks of resistance training, the maximal strength, explosive power, and muscular endurance have improved in the all three experimental groups. But, the anthropometric factors didn't change. The comparison of the obtained data revealed that double pyramid is the most suitable pattern in improving the maximal strength of the subjects. Also all patterns made similar increment in explosive power. Muscular endurance increment at abdominal area was not significant, but achievement muscular endurance of shoulder belt in reverse pyramid and double pyramid groups was consistent.
Discussion: The inconsistency in shoulder belt muscular endurance may be in line with the fact that the focus of training exercises was on arm and leg muscle and challenging the shoulder belt muscles were ignored. In accordance with the superiority of double pyramid loading pattern and reverse pyramid, Rooney et al., (1994) stated that a sportsman in fatigue situation for strength preference has to apply more motor units which consequently increase the strength this condition has been observed in double pyramid and reverse pyramid loading pattern. Generally speaking, it seems that double pyramid and reverse pyramid respectively, has positive effects on examined factors in female volleyball players.